Do you use mayo or vinegar to clean instead of buying expensive cleaning products?

Can you be found outside sitting by the curb, in the dark, scissors in hand, waiting for the coupons to arrive every Sunday morning?

We want you!!

There’s no doubt that when it comes to stretching a dollar, parents are champs. And that’s a good thing since our annual U.S. Cost of Raising a Kid report revealed the average cost per kid is $226,920! And that’s BEFORE college costs!! (YIKES!)

We think it’s high time we help each other save a few bucks! So here goes …

Between September 7-11, we’re asking BabyCenter fans to send in your best tips for saving money. It can be ways to trim your grocery bill, tips on haggling, couponing strategies — the possibilities are endless.

BabyCenter editors will then pick our favorite ideas and feature them in our BabyCenter Top 10 Super Savers list to be released on Momformation next Tuesday, September 13.

Will there be prizes?

Of course! All fans featured in the BabyCenter Top 10 Super Savers list will receive a BabyCenter tote bag filled with all sorts of branded goodies. In addition, the top 3 tipsters will receive the following:

#1 tipster – $125 Visa gift card

#2 tipster – $50 Visa gift card

#3 tipster – $25 Visa gift card

Here are the three different ways you can enter the BabyCenter Super Savers contest:

Tell us your best savings tip in the comments below before Sunday, September 11 at 12:00 p.m. ET

Post your savings tips in the Family Finances group during our Super Savers party in the BabyCenter Community this Friday, September 9 between 12-6 p.m. ET (Lots of other prizes too!)

Tweet your entry to @babycenter using the #supersavers hashtag during our Super Savers Twitter party this Friday, September 9 from 9-10 p.m. ET. To join in, visit Tweetchat.com and enter in the hashtag #supersavers.

Are you ready?? On your mark, get set, SAVE!!!

Legal: Employees of BabyCenter and their families are not eligible for prizes.

We make our own laundry soap, use vinegar to clean just about everything, and buy second hand jeans, then dye them, instead of buying new. We re-use baggies and foil, water down our dish soap, and frequent Goodwill and Craigs List.

Ali L

Craigslist for anything and everything !
Slickdeals.net for lots of online/store deals (diapers deals all the time)

michelle

I use facebook to my advantage. I have “liked” couponing pages like, “family frugal fun”, “smart couponing”, “HappyMoneySaver”, and diy groups like “tipjunkie”. They do most of the work for me. Finding the coupons and finding deals where doubling will make it even better. The diy site helps me repurpose everyday junk into great gift and decore. Coupon.com and “liking” manufactures on facebook can also give you great discounts and free samples. I haven’t bought lotion or perfume in years thanks to free samples!

Nikki

Buy second hand and consign!!! Babies grow into and out of clothes and toys and “stuff” so quickly. Not only does it save money but it keeps clutter down!!! I keep my local second hand store happy. I buy as much as I consign!! But when you buy it for less than retail and get money back from old stuff it makes your pocket book happy!

Jen

Amazon moms! I pay $17.99 for diapers at the grocery store. I can get the same number of diapers for $10.37 by signing up for auto delivery from Amazon Moms. And it is delivered to my doorstep!

http://slickdeals.net Sanjana

Slickdeals.net, is the BEST resource to look for baby products and tips , it is the best website I have found which posts the BEST deals, alongwith hot deals and comments which gives everyone an indication on whether the coupons or the deal actually works. it is simply the best way I have found where I can get deals on wipes.
Also join amazon mom on amazon.com, where you can get free 2 day Prime shipping at no extra cost, with many many amazing deals on all baby products and with subscribe and save on top , you can get replenishment of products every so often at the same cost. All you have to do is set up a baby registry on Amazon mom, and the membership is free too, you couldnt ask for more.

April lewis

Check internet for prices in the area of a product to find the cheapest deal. & only change your babies diaper when dirty or wet!

Tori T

We use a gas station credit card and save 10cents per gallon every fill up and recieve cash rewards at the end of each year!

Tanya

I make my own laundry soap with Fels Naptha, Borax, Washing Soda, and Water. SO much cheaper than buying laundry soap all the time…especially with a family of 6.

Jessica

I take my Trash bags to work with me, they have a full size dumpster and dont mind my little trash- I try to conserve gas by preplanning the days Im at shopping and not backtracking – I try to make leftovers from dinner to take to work the next day – I buy Tshirts from Summer Clearance and put them over thermals in the winter, cute style and less expensive than the thick winter clothes.

http://BabyCenter Simone Dowden

Instead of reg diapers, I made my own cloth ones out of extra shirts. The scraps from shirts and old towels I use to clean around the house and do dishes with. Not only do I save money, but it’s less of an earth pollutant. I breast fed both of my boys until they were eating table food, and then I made my own food. You can cut your produce bill in half by doing a local co-op produce exchange/bountiful baskits. I also do “extreme” couponing. My Husband and I bond over coupon cutting and add comparisons. We cut our monthy household expenses from $600 on average, to less than $200 for a family of 4. That also allows for a stock pile and for us to donate food to our church and local animal shelter. Getting to know your local consignment/childrens clothing exchange helps too. That way you can phase out old toys and get “new” ones as the children grow! Your local church might also have groups for Mommies that don’t require you to attend he church, but will involve you with other Mommies that are looking to cut bills too! They are good for feedback and other ideas! All of this I have found to be really helpful for my monthly expenses, but it also helps stimulate the local businesses!

http://facebook.com/greenreddew theresa

Couponing is my thing. I have taken a small habit and brought it to a point that NOTHING I purchase comes in this house unless it was purchase on sale AND a coupon was used.

I follow a website called LivingRichWithCoupons.com and she is a GREAT coupon and deal shopper! She shows you how to break it down and what is a great deal.

I also dont jump from store to store for deals. I have 3 main stores near me but they are not super close to each other to hop around for deals.

Walmart is NOT always cheaper! I have gotten better deals at Giant or Pathmark w/ doubling coupons and sales.

If you have a drugstore like CVS or RiteAid, learn their rewards system! I scored FREE diapers thanks to rewards and coupons!

darcysmama

Maybe this is too simple or goes without saying, but the EASIEST way to save tones of money (and help the planet big time!!) is to eat and buy local!! Those grapes from Chile that you buy? You are paying for their flight! Eat in season, buy local as much as possible and watch your grocery bills plummet! That goes for meat eaters too! Find a local farmer (organic if possible) and buy a cow (or whatever floats your meat boat) and freeze freeze freeze! If that’s too expensive, share! Find a friend or two and split the animal. Fresh and local tastes better too. Win win!

Jackie

Check your cable bill, phone bill, and any other bill. There is almost always something you can take off to lessen the cost. Also, for cable, there is always a better deal with another company. Ask your provider to compete with them and give you a similar deal. Always works with Verizon and Comcast.

Myra Severson

I clip coupons, and check all the sales, and save as much as I can, especially on diapers, and clothes. I have been able to get free diapers, cheap clothing brand new, and food for little to nothing! Also, I take advantage of EVERY customer reward program…I’ve gotten free office supplies, free gum, AND am able to keep my family clean for pennies on the dollar! As we make room for our little one, I shop compared for the best deals and the best bundles when it came to my registries. I was able to get a breatpump for free b/c of gift cards (I am NOT afraid to ask for them from my registry), and I use as many free shipping methods as I can, as often as I can!

New Mom Little Rock

I use coupons like actual money. I NEVER throw one away! I ask friends & family to give me ANY and EVERY coupon they are NOT going to use…if they plan on throwing it in the trash give it to me instead! I then put them in a binder/organizer. I take that thing with me any time I get into my car.

I am not brand loyal so if I need laundry detergent I find one that is one sale PLUS I have a coupon that is the one I buy! I don’t just buy one though…if I have 3 coupons for this item and it is 75% off I will purchase 3 items with my coupons…this saves my family anywhere from 60-90% on what we spend on the grocery bill a year!

I don’t stop there though…I give coupons away to complete strangers! If I notice someone purchasing an item and I have a coupon I simply ask if they would like it. Even though my goal with couponing is to save MY family money I don’t want to be greedy…I “share the wealth”!

Also, I send ALL my expired coupons to a military wife overseas…they allow military persons and their families to use expired coupons 6 months past the expiration date! Why waste the trees!?!? Send them over seas!!

Johanna Trimble

We are on a very limited budget- my husband and I are both unemployed and we have a 2 year old and a 6month old so saving money where we can is an absolute must.

We’ve given up a lot of “luxuries” to accommodate our lack of income. We no longer own a car, instead we ride the bus or walk.. on the few occasions where we need a car friends and family drive us otherwise a day rental is $30 .. that’s a lot better than $300 a month + insurance.

We no longer have cell phones.. instead we’ve opted for Skype at home for $5 a month unlimited plus we have a prepaid cell phone to use when we go out and have limited that for emergencies only.

We are able to save a lot of money by purchasing used items for our daughters from toys to clothes to cloth diapers. We’ve saved a lot on disposable diapers alone! We use craigslist for free or low cost toys and our local thrift store. We also utilize our local library for renting videos/dvd/video games and books for all of us. Playdates at the park are also a great savings and great exercise for our girls.

I do my own hair and nails so that’s a cut expense. When it comes to food we coupon as much as possible, but we also shop sales mostly and bring our own reusable bags… Some grocery stores here in MD will give you an added discount for bringing reusable bags.

I keep a little jar next to our washing machine and each time I run a load I check our pockets for loose/spare change. I’ve managed to collect about $50 dollars. I then use this change to buy a “treat” for our little girl which we might not otherwise afford.

I’m sure there are a lot more way to save money, but so far this has worked for us. We’re able to keep our kids happy and safe and that’s what matters most.

Beth

With twins everything is twice as nice and twice ax expensive. Some ways we saved money:
1) ask for the sibling discount. Some classes will give a small discount. Even some stores will give you 10% off if you buy more than one item (like carseats!)
2) Walk instead of drive. If you are close to stores, best way to limit what you buy is if you have to carry (of stroller it) home.
3) Join a mothers’ club. Not only will it save your sanity, but every single mom I have met has at least one tip to share. Efficiency will save you money. Learn from their experiences!
4) Breastfeed if you can. If you can’t, buy the discount formula. By law all formula has to have the Sam basic ingredients.
5) consignment sales like Just Between Friends. Buying new clothes and equipment adds up fast. These sales are great because you can make some money selling all your gear when your baby is done with it.

Samantha Frederick

1. Breastfeed your baby if you can instead of formula feed.
2. Make your own baby food. Two large sweet potatoes make 24 jars of baby food and only cost $1.24 whereas you would spend $12 buying sore bought baby food. Over time it really adds up!
3. Cloth diaper! I use a hybrid system with just covers and inserts. I bought seconds covers (not used, just ones that had tiny flaws) for $9 and made my own inserts. You can even cloth diaper cheap!
4. Coupons! The first two months I was couponing, I saved $450.
5. Yard sale, thrift store, and consignment sale shop. I have found the majority of my children’s clothes at these places. Many are brand new and still have the tags on them from people whose children outgrew their clothes before they could wear them. Not to mention nobody can tell the difference of whether you bought them from a high-end store or not! I have even found smocked clothes for cheap that still have the tags on! When I do buy from a store, it is almost always from the clearance/sale section.
6. Free activities for the kids/family. There are so many free places to go and activities that your town/city may offer. Our children go to free workshops all the time where they get to make new items. They get so excited and are so proud of themselves when they see what they have accomplished! Not to mention there are always beautiful parks and other places your family can go to for free to spend quality time together.
7. We also made some simple home improvements that bring down the cost of our utility bills. Such as adding more insulation to the attic, weather stripping, energy saver light bulbs and appliances, etc. These pay for themselves over time and can significantly lower utility bills.
8. Eat at home instead of eating out. So many families eat out for so many meals nowadays. I enjoy cooking for my family and it is definitely cheaper and healthier for us! Also, you get to spend quality time with your family in the quiet, comfortable environment of your home while you eat.

We use all of these money saving tips in our house and it will help us to be able to pay for college and provide a better future for our children.

Maloba

I have stayed away from the smart phone frenzy. I am a stay at home mum and have the internet available on my pc at home which is where I am most of the day. We have managed to keep our phone bill minimal. In addition we have a vonage landphone which is 14.95 unlimited calling in the U.S and Canada so all my long chats are done there. I think magic jack phone is even cheaper…like 20 dollars a yr. I wish I could post more stuff I do to save money!

http://community.babycenter.com/profile/caitlinslowery Caitlin

Every 3 months or so, call you cable/internet/phone companies and see what special offers they have available to lower costs. They often will have offers to hand out to keep their customers.

Marlena

Place a half gallon jug filled with water and pebbles in your toilet tank to conserve water and lower your water bill.

Hillari Balak

Share a garden space with a neighbor or two. Split the cost, work and the bounty! You will save alot of money by growing your own food. You can host a canning party to put up vegetables and fruit for a taste of summer on cold dreary days in winter.

KitsuTails

Im have to say…Andrea Bennett has a good list!! Id add…

Tip #6 – Join WIC

Tip # 7 – Food stamps

Tip # 8 – Set aside Two Jars 1 for treats (Ice cream shop, restaurant)and the other for outings (Zoo, museums, skating ring…) and teach your kids to put any and ALL loose change into them, then at the end of the month…or three….families choice…cash the coins in for bucks and choose something fun to do!

Tip #1 – CLOTH DIAPER!

Tip #2 – BREASTFEED!

Tip #3 – make your own baby food

Tip #4 – shop consignment and outlet malls.

Tip #5 – teach your kids to appreciate nature. It is always free!

http://www.embracingfibro.blogspot.com Melanie W

MEAL PLAN!

I plan our entire menu out for each month in advance. I keep a calendar by the sofa in the living room that I can add events too as soon as they come up. The last week of the month I write each day of the next month on a piece of paper (noting events) and I start a menu. We have certain things on certain days (Taco Tuesday for example) and a really nice meal with a homemade dessert on Sundays.

Where do I get my meal ideas from? Simple! I keep a list of all the meals that everyone likes on my computer. All the meals are organized by type (Taco Tuesday, Sunday Dinners, Easy Peasy, etc), so when I need to do the menu I can just reference the list!

Once I have the menu done, I make my grocery list from the menu. I go line by line and write down what I need in specific catagories on my list (dairy, frozen, meats, etc). When I am done with the list I go through the house and write down other things I need.

Now, this takes me a few days because I go over it a few times to make sure I am not doubling up on things I already have or I dont miss something I need. I started doing this when I was married to my ex and he was in the military…we had a very limited income. I have refined it over the years!

Now, I can feed 5 people 3 meals a day for about $500 a month…if you do the math, that is about $16/day, $5.20/meal, and $1.05 per person per meal! This does include snacks and treats as well for me, my husband, my 16 year old daughter, 12 year old son (who plays football, baseball, basketball, and Taekwondo possibly this winter!), and our 9 month old daughter!

Kit

I have a couple things I do to save.
#1. buy bulk cut cheese, it’s $7 for 1 lbs shreded or $8 for a 2 lbs block. A shreder is $5 and will save you big bucks in the long run.
#2. use chicken tenders instead of breasts, the tenders are smaller so you have to use more peices, but all meat is priced by weight and the tenders are (in Central Texas) 18 Cents cheeper by the lbs then the thighs or breasts.
#3. Buy foods with a longer shelf life in bulk, and foods that have a shorter shelf life in only amounts you’ll use, this cut’s back on waste. (example, buy salad in small packages, it spoils faster once you break the seal, so even though it seems like it costs more in the long run you’ll save)
#4. buy every 2 weeks and only get side ingredients (like fresh fruit or salad) on off weeks. his will help you stick to your list and avoid all the temptations. It also forces you to ration unhealthy snacks if, as a rule, you only buy non produce bieweekly.
#5. look up the local coupons (and try to keep it with in 2 miles of your house and to less than 3 stores to save on gas) make a minue based on the sales/coupons that covers the next 2 weeks, make a shpping list from this minue (don’t forget to check the freezer and cross off what you already have) and stick to the list!
#6. Off brand toiletry items are just as good when it comes to Shampoo and toilet paper. Also multi use, Shampoo makes a great body wash. and use a generic sent, the whole family can share.
#7 repurpose, that torn sheet can make a great table cloth or picnic blanket, learn to sew and save a bundle by repurposing old sheets into curtians and rehemming your slacks. Old dishes also make great art.
#8 buy your cloths at a second hand store, you can always find the latest prints, and have a wardrobe that is personal and unique! And you can help save lives while you do it. And if you are not into passing cloths along from oldest to youngest, host a clothing swap and “shop” from a friends old cloths while she shops from yours.
#9.Pack a lunch, moth offices have a fridge and microwave, and you can get a huge selection of quick fixes for under $2, bring your own drink and you have a lunch for $3 where as if you go out you will spend between $6 and $12.
#10.(This is the hardest) Don’t buy that fancy new toy unless there is a special occation, Offer to “hire” your kids to earn it, and if they really want it, they’ll do a load of dishes, or sort the laundry for it, if not it’s Money saved. Do the same for you! If you really want that new smartphone or dress set a deadline and make a “to do” list. If you finish before the deadline You got it, if not you really didn’t want it and it’s more money in your pocket for something you do really want.

I manage to keep our grocerie/toiletry (diapers included) bill to under $100 a week for a family of 3 using these 10 steps. And I find a little extra motivation to keep a clean house

Rebecca Hovick

Check the tire pressure on your car at least once a month to make your gas mileage better. You would be surprised at how much money you can save by not having to buy gas as often.
And, if you can, walk or ride a bike to get around.

Vero C

1. Accept your family’s offer to babysit (free!)
2. As everyone has said: Exclusively Breastfeed!
3. Accept second hand clothes from older cousins or family members.
4. Don’t stop working, work from home if you can. (I translate things when my baby is sleeping).
5. Go out for a walk wearing your baby, better than gym since you can bond during that time.
6. Always have groceries and easy to make food that your husband likes, so your husband doesn’t eat out or order pizza out of the sudden.
7. Find a plan for your phone where you can talk for free with the people you talk to the most.
8. Create some of your children’s toys. (Cereal boxes, McDonald’s happy meal boxes, and packaging in general take a new form).
9. Buy a slow cooker.
10. Have a hairstyle that can “hang in there” for the longest time possible, not needing trims often.
11. Don’t dye your hair.

Theresa

I just started extreme couponing (sort of)…I don’t go crazy…it’s all about matching coupons to store sales and getting the most for your money. Breastfeeding saves a huge amount too. If I don’t get free or almost free laundry soap then I will make my own. Plus, we try not to buy new…Saturday yard sales are a weekly event as well as goodwill, thrift stores, consignment, craigslist, etc.

Sarah Defibaugh

Saving money on baby items has given me many cheap thrills over the past year. Here are the things I have done that have saved me the most:

Tip #1 Subscribe to a couponing blog (such as http://www.dealseekingmom.com). All of the special deals grocery stores are offering are combined with links to printable coupons. This blog even shows you how to ‘stack’ coupons for items that are free or almost free! There are links to free samples of tons of different baby items (I have received diapers, formula, and baby food for FREE!) and they are all organized and easy to access.

Tip #2 Trade with friends. Many of my friends were more than willing to pass on maternity clothes, barely used baby clothes, and baby accessories. Most of them actually thanked ME for taking them off their hands. In fact, I have had to turn down baby clothes because we simply had too many. In exchange, I passed on any duplicate items I had received from showers to keep the cycle going.

Tip #3 If you are making your own baby food, no need to buy fancy containers. Simply use your ice cube trays to freeze small portions and then transfer to plastic containers or baggies. I also saved all of the little glass baby food jars and froze portions of food in them. It’s amazing how creative you can get with pureeing baby food in the blender–especially if you have a garden. Bonus: you know what’s going into your baby’s tummy doesn’t contain preservatives or additives.

Theresa

Oh yeah, entering sweepstakes and contests for free stuff (like this one 😉

Jenni

Grocery Shopping:
1. Make a weekly menu. Make a shopping list off that menu and stick to it. Plus, only one trip a week to the store saves a ton of time and money over multiple trips.
2. Watch the things you use most..they go on sale in cycles. Get them when they are the cheapest.
Clothing, Toys and even School and Craft Supplies
1. Younger kids don’t need *NEW* clothes. Thrift shops, Soroptomist and consignment stores have great clothes for cheap.
Toys
2. Yard sales!

Rosalind

Use what is already in your refrigerator/pantry to make at least one of your meals a week. Use a coupon only if the after coupon price is lower than the generic.

Alisha Walker

Goodwill, Salvation Army, and thrift stores are a savvy shoppers best friend. They sell most anything you need for your home. Many things are new and everything is still very usable. And as for clothing, which sounds best? A new shirt for $30 or a shirt that looks new for $2???? These stores also offer a larger variety. So cruse your local second hand stores. You will save a fortune!

CHERISSE

I shop at Target!!! The Target, up & up items may be generic but they work just as well as the name brand. The only difference is the name. And Target always has great sales. I am member of BJ’s wholesale food club, so I purchase a lot of items in bulk which eliminates monthly spending.

Vanessa

As the only working parent of two small children I have found countless ways to save money. I cut coupons from the Sunday’s paper and match them with store coupons and sales for that week. When shopping I always buy off the clearance rack and usually will buy out of season, children’s clothing is just as expensive as adults. My friends and I exchange children’s clothing, getting the most use out of their clothes as possible. I also shop at consignment shops and the good will. All the minor appliances in my house are unplugged unless being used it truly cuts down on the light bill. Also hanging your clothes out to dry verse using the dryer is a major electricity saver. As for cutting your grocery bill in half, I will buy store brands and locally produced items because they are always cheaper than the name brands even if the name brands are on sale.

Melissa D.

I have two great ways to save money. For MOST things, I’m perfectly happy to buy generic. There are SOME things I won’t compromise on (sorry, but I’m toilet-paper spoiled!) but for most, what’s the real difference?

My other way comes in the form of a story that happened to me yesterday. The moral of the story comes at the end. So stay tuned or you’ll miss it!

I was shopping at my local grocery store for our regular run. At our store, the sales end on Tuesdays, and the new sales and store specials start on Wednesdays. The ad stated that Foster Farms “half breast with ribs attached” value packs were 1.27 per pound. But they didn’t have any left – just the regular packs of the same pieces of chicken (smaller packs though) for 1.99 a pound. I complained at the meat counter and the man shrugged his shoulders and said they sold out. I calmly brought this up to the supervisor when I checked out (making sure to go in a lane where there was a supervisor checking) and explained the situation. I asked what she was going to do about it. She said, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.” And she charged me the 1.27 per pound for the chicken I was buying, instead of the 1.99 as it was marked.

The moral of this story? Don’t be afraid to ask questions about pricing. If you don’t ask the question, you might never get a great hidden deal! Also, shop the last day of the “special” that you are hoping for – if they are sold out of the item, they may make an exception for you and give you a similar item for a great price.

Anne Lehnick

We go in with other families to purchase an entire cow or pig then stock the freezer with a hundred pounds of meat at a time. Our beef (ground, steaks, roasts, etc.) averages $2.60 per pound and the pork (sausage, ground, hams, bacon, chops) averages $1.75 per pound. Plus, most cows in our area are grassfed.

Angela

Coupons, coupons, coupons!!! I was inspired by the TLC show Extreme Couponing a few months ago and have been learning the tricks of the trade ever since. Utilizing store coupons that will stack with manufacturer coupons is the way to get merchandise for pennies on the dollar, or in some cases FREE! I have not paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, deodorant or hair care products since I began. Our monthly grocery expense has gone from $500-$600 down to roughly $200 for a family of six. I have learned that it is NOT always best to use the coupons the week they circulate. Stores are aware of the coupons that will be in the upcoming Sunday paper and will advertise “deals” that coincide with the coupons. These are rarely a savings. There are the occasional deals that are justified, but it is better to hold onto your coupons as long as possible looking for the better deal yet to come.
As for around the house, I too use the vinegar and baking soda(great for getting rust off things)to clean. If those two items won’t clean it, probably nothing will. Hand soap(which I have not paid more than a quarter for) will last twice as long if you make your own. You have to first invest in a foam dispenser(not that expensive especially with coupons) and then purchase the liquid soap. Instead of buying the refill for the foam just take about ten squirts of your liquid hand soap and fill the rest of the foam dispenser with water. It works just as well as the refill and costs almost nothing!
These are just a few of the ways that my family and I are saving in this difficult economy.

QuietChick

Breastfeeding and cloth diapering are the two great choices, as well as buying used, but I won’t bore you by restating what has already been said so well.

As far as couponing, my favorite store is Target. They often have store coupons available to print out online, which can be combined with manufacturer’s coupons. In addition, with the store debit card, you get an automatic 5% off all your purchases. Lastly, if you bring your bags, you get $0.05 off for each reusable bag you bring.

We also bought our daughter a certificate of deposit (CD). Unfortunately, interest rates are extremely low, and show no hope of increasing in the near future. The easiest solution for us was to get a CD, with about 1.5% APR. We’ll continue to roll this over until we find a decent investment opportunity. The 5-2-9 plan in our state is a joke at this point. If a penny saved is a penny earned, then a penny earned is a penny earned, too, right? College is going to be our biggest expense, and we need to prepare for that the best we can.

My last money saver: my family. My sister has 6 kids, so she has plenty of hand-me-downs for us to borrow. My parents are doting grandparents, and love spoiling all of their grandchildren. My husband’s parents are first-time grandparents, so they’re enjoying this as much as possible, and nothing is more granparenty than buying lots of baby stuff! My brother-in-law has an apple orchard on his property, and my daughter looooooves apples, so we’ll be visiting Uncle Charlie a bit this fall.

MomofTwoPreciousGirls

Lower your bill to the evil cable companies. I get my unlimited internet for 49.95/month and pay ZERO for cable and skip the land line.

We use Hulu.com, HBO GO (my mom pays for services), and all the major networks show their episodes for free. We find websites that have movies and free tv shows. The cable bundle is $139/month (including the taxes). That’s a savings of $1068 A YEAR!!

The best thing that ever entered my life was Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover! Opened my eyes to what necessities are and what luxuries are…just wish I found it 2 years ago!

Robyn

Play the “drugstore game” with coupons – you can score free stuff all the time, and I’ve saved on average at least 70% off EVERY bill when I go to buy things like toothpaste, toothbrushes, deoderant, and feminine products. Even diapers I can easily get half off!

Target will take both a manufacturer’s coupon AND one of their store-specific coupons. For example, I had two coupons for the new Huggies slip-on diapers. I was able to score the big packs for $4.49 a piece.

Invest in one thing that you LOVE to do – for example, buy an annual parking permit to the regional parks so you can visit them without having to pay the parking cost every time you go. This gives you a “free” outing if you pack snacks or a picnic.

Geocaching is lots of fun – and completely free (although to get access to all of the caches you have to be a member on their website, yet it’s only about $20/year). This is especially good for older kids (3 and up). All you need is a GPS (most cell phones have apps these days, and if not, you can pick one up for under $50 and use it for 20 years) and a spirit for adventure. This is one scavenger hunt that continues all over the world so you can even participate when you travel to Aunt Bertha’s for Thanksgiving. Check out http://www.geocaching.com

Try to find a playgroup that has kids who are staggered in age – this way you can swap clothes and toys with the other families and save tons of money in the process.

Do not shop at Hallmark, American Greetings, Carlton cards, etc…instead, go to the Dollar Tree for your cards. For 50 cents you can get a card that would have cost you $3.00 or more at any of those stores. Or, have your kids make cards for friends and family with construction paper and markers. Homemade cards are always more fun that store bought!

Buy holiday decorations after the holiday, when they are on clearance. Save for the next year. Same goes for clothing, and anything else you can get out of season.

Lump as many insurance policies together as possible (home, car, life, etc). You will get a discount, sometimes steep, just for doing so.

Instill a “5-min shower rule”. Saves tons of water (and money!). Also, place a full water bottle in the tank of each toilet so that when you flush you use less water.

Freeze your leftovers. Or, buy in bulk, make two (or however many you can get out of the ingredients) of the dish, and freeze one for later. Buying bulk saves money if you don’t want to search sales and use coupons, and you won’t waste any of the food (bonus – dinner can be popped in the oven on a busy night with no prep or cooking required!).

If you tend to buy bottled iced tea, STOP! Make your own – the teabags cost way less, and it doesn’t take much time to do (make it while cooking dinner one night).

Instead of going out to eat, have monthly potlucks with friends or family members. The host family serves the main dish, and everyone else fills in (salad, sides, drinks, desserts). Then you get a great meal with great company and it costs about 8 times less than going out would!

When you do go out, try to find out when the kids eat free or go someplace that you have coupons for. Another option: buy the gift cards at Costco or Sam’s Club, and save a percentage right away.

shannon

#1 a way to save on cell phones is to combine cell phone plans. On my plan I have my husbands, mine, dad, and moms so we split the whole bill so instead of my husbands and mine being 120 its only 80 for my part and the same for my parents.

#2 use less laundry soap it doesn’t actually take a full cap to clean.

#3 carpool to work

#4 instead of buying new furniture have yours dyed.

#5 recycle cans a fun thing to do is go hiking with family and find cans. After a few months of going around our lake we collected over two hundred dollars worth. This is one a lot of people think of but don’t actually do it

Rebecca

I mostly trade clothing, books, and DVD’s with other mommys! Breastfeeding really helps too! I also let my 2 year old run around naked to potty train which saves on pullups.

Katie

We don’t eat out much, but when we do we look for Kids Eat Free deals.
We also use the Public Library, so we have an endless supply of new books.
We always go to free Community Events–Easter Egg Hunts, Fall Festivals, Kite Day, Apple Festival, Community Days at certain spots etc.. we have seen her favorite kids band play too at these festivals all free!!!

These have been huge money savers for me because they are fun filled days that include a lot of entertainment.

Hannah

I have a three year old daughter and another due in October and am completely determined to be a stay at home mom. So I have found awesome ways to rack up huge savings. My top three money saving tips are as follows:

1. NEVER EVER buy anything full price! From jeans to laundry soap there is always a deal to be found and money to be saved.

2. Shop with coupons AND weekly ads. My grocery store offers buy 1 get 1 free deals and will allow me to use one coupon per item (even the free one) which adds up huge.

3. Eat at home. Since you’re saving so much money on groceries it only makes sense. My family eats dinner for usually less then $10.

Saving money has become my job with the best benefits I could ask for!

Anna

Two simple ideas:
Generic brands &
Make your own baby food!

Shammara

Use coupons! I just started using coupons and they can save major bucks. I just look at the weekly grocery ads and see where the products I have coupons for are on sale. Take advantage of stores that double coupons. Just today I was able to get 3 boxes of Hamburger Helper for free. If it is on sale for buy one get one free, take the ad to Wal-Mart and price match because the product is usually cheaper there. I also visit forthemommas.com; they give good information on freebies and coupon match-ups. Also, as others have said, breastfeed.

http://none Cherie

Some of these are repeats but always helpful!

1. Sign up for ‘freebies’ Great way to try out new products… and They usually come with more coupons!
2. Breastfeed/Pump/Make your own baby food “Baby Love” is a great book that walks you through step by step from chopping to blending! *Not endorsing book* Just saying, it’s great!
3.Make your own cleaners….vinegar, salt, and baking soda are basic ingredients and go along way. From degreaser, windows, laundry and even unclogging sinks/drains!! Add peppermint oil or lemon juice for good smell!
4.Second hand clothes- for kids and you-
5. Plan your trips/plan your meals… Plan and Organize! if you need to make multiple transactions to get the most of deals, write out each one and set aside your coupons for that trip….helps from going in and buying different things you hadn’t intended too! Also Never go shopping hungry!!
6.Coupons coupons coupons… Take a coupon class…there are free ones online that give you the basics! I found out couponing is beyond easy with the help of the internet! Most sites will match deals for you at all your great stores! Just plan and go! If you feel you don’t have time to clip…. I have friends that buy 100 coupons for .99cents on ebay and says saves them the time and trip for Sunday papers!
7. Craft/sew…. this started out as scrapbooking hobby for me but since there’s a new lil one in the family… I started sewing “taggie blankets,” clothes, even baby bows etc. You can find most patterns online for free or the craft section for super cheap!
8. Look for the deals… amazon mom’s is great for diapers, most times you can find lower prices on any ‘like’ website and have what you’re looking for shipped to your house for free or little to nothing.
9. Trips/outings…. look at your town website for free events/classes. Also look in those wonderful Sunday newspapers you get for coupons. Most of a section of what’s going on in the area and sometimes even coupons or “how to’s” to get in free or what night is discounted!
10. Always ask if they give discounts…I’m military and learned most stores won’t give you the discount unless you ask! This goes from AAA members to student discounts and other loyalty cards!
That’s all I can think of for now!

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Note: This is a fun post spoofing a popular series on one of my favorite technology blogs. The boy scouts have a motto “always be prepared.” My son doesn’t know that because he is 3. But he does like to be prepared in case an adventure (or a 30-minute ride to his grandparents house) presents… Read more »